WhatsApp unveils high-security mode, latest tech firm to offer users stronger protection

Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, ‍joining a growing number of U.S. tech firms that are ​letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers

Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, ‍joining a growing number of U.S. tech firms that are ​letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers in ‌exchange for a more restrictive experience.

The new ​option, rolling out on Tuesday and called “Strict Account Settings,” is a one-click button in WhatsApp’s settings that activates a series of defences.

These include blocking media and attachments from unknown senders, disabling link previews (the thumbnails that appear when a URL is entered into ​a chat) and silencing calls from unknown contacts. All ⁠three have been identified as potential vectors for surveillance and advanced hackers.

In a blog post, WhatsApp said that while all ​its users’ conversations were protected ⁠by end-to-end encryption, “we also know that a few of our users – like journalists or public-facing figures – may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks.”

Meta ‌Platforms is the third major tech firm to offer ‌a security boost for high-risk users.

In 2022, Apple launched “Lockdown Mode,” which it describes as “an optional, ‍extreme protection” designed for the “very few individuals” who might be targeted by advanced digital threats. Available on iPhone ‍and macOS, the feature disables most message attachment types and link previews and includes restrictions on FaceTime calls and web browsing.